Method and apparatus for working mineral bodies and other materials

ABSTRACT

Multiple tool means for working a material are mounted in a tool-supporting structure. The tool-supporting structure, at one side, is formed with an elongated tool opening to provide for movement of a gang of tools therethrough into and out of engagement with a surface and the body of the material. Each of the tools in the gang may thereafter be selectively actuated. Where desired, greater versatility is realized by mounting additional reciprocating tools in spaced relation around a frame which revolves through an extended arc of travel. Indexing movement of the revolving frame permits any of the tools to be located so as to be advanced and retracted through the said opening of the tool-supporting structure in various positions of angularity along the extended arc of travel. In one desirable form of tool means, multiple wedging forces are exerted to split minerals and other bodies along extended planes of splitting. Specifically the wedging forces may be applied to a mineral body such as granite as it occurs in a natural state, and from which pieces of dimensioned stone may be produced. Controlled splitting is accomplished by a gang of spaced, reciprocating wedge devices together with fluid power-actuated driver means for transmitting driving forces to each of the wedge devices The wedge devices may be operated simultaneously or separately of one another and the driving forces may be exerted to reach a maximum intensity instantly or applied with gradually increasing intensity.

United States Patent Fletcher et al.

151 3,655,243 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WORKING MINERAL BODIES AND OTHER MATERIALS [72] Inventors: Ralph A Fletcher, Bedford; Joseph R.

Oliver, Lowell, both of Mass.

H. E. Fletcher Co., Westford, Middlesex County, Mass.

[22] Filed: Jan. 13, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 2,489

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 793,348, Jan. 23,

1969, Pat. No. 3,558,191.

[73] Assignee:

Primary Examiner-Emest R. Purser Attorney-Munroe H. Hamilton [5 7] ABSTRACT Multiple tool means for working a material are mounted in a tool-supporting structure. The tool-supporting structure, at one side, is formed with an elongated tool opening to provide for movement of a gang of tools therethrough into and out of engagement with a surface and the body of the material. Each of the tools in the gang may thereafter be selectively actuated. Where desired, greater versatility is realized by mounting additional reciprocating tools in spaced relation around a frame which revolves through an extended arc of travel. Indexing movement of the revolving frame permits any of the tools to be located so as to be advanced and retracted through the said opening of the tool-supporting structure in various positions of angularity along the extended arc of travel.

In one desirable form of tool means, multiple wedging forces are exerted to split minerals and other bodies along extended planes of splitting. Specifically the wedging forces may be ap- 10 Claims, 51 Drawing Figures Patented April 11, 1972 $1 Sheets-Sheet 1 J06 2211. oa'vezi W .9 M 74 fliioflazey Patented April 11, 1972 3,655,243

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1. In a method of working a stone body having an exposed surface, the steps which include supporting a gang of tools for rotative movement about a common axis which is arranged in substantially parallel spaced relationship to said surface, revolving the gang of tools about said axis into predetermined angular relationship with respect to the said surface, and advancing the tools under pressure against the said surface to form a cleavage in the stone body.
 2. A method according to claim 1 in which the said surface is substantially vertical and the said gang of tools is secured in suspended relationship adjacent to said surface.
 3. A method according to claim 1 in which individual tools in said gang of tools are selectively activated.
 4. A method according to claim 1 in which all of the tools in said gang of tools are simultaneously moved.
 5. A method according to claim 1 in which the gang of tools is operated to apply splitting forces exerted to reach a maximum intensity instantly.
 6. A method according to claim 1 in which the gang of tools is operated to apply splitting forces exerted with gradually increasing intensity.
 7. In a method of working a stone body having an exposed surface in which a parting occurs, the steps which include supporting a gang of wedging tools for rotative movement about a common axis which is arranged in substantially parallel spaced relationship to said surface, revolving the gang of tools about the said axis into predetermined angular relationship with respect to the said surface and advancing the tools under pressure against the parting in the said surface to extend the parting and form a cleavage in the stone body.
 8. In a method of working a stone body having an exposed vertically extending surface, the steps which include supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced gangs of tools for rotative movement about a common axis which is arranged in substantially parallel spaced relationship to the said vertically extending surface, successively revolving each of the gangs of tools about the said axis into a working position in predetermined angular relationship with respect to the said surface, and advancing tools of each of the said gangs while in a working position against the said surface to form a cleavage in the stone body.
 9. A method according to claim 8 in which the said plurality of gangs of tools includes a row of drill elements which are operated to form a series of spaced apart drilled holes and a row of spaced reciprocating wedges which are advanced into the drilled holes and then expanded to exert controlled wedging forces.
 10. A method according to claim 9 in which a reciprocating tracer mechanism is engaged against the stone body and operated to form a line of tracing along which the drilled holes are located. 